Police reinforcements are being called to Dunedin this weekend in preparation for the probable arrival of the unofficial Undie 500.
The annual Undie 500, in which students drive from Christchurch to Dunedin in vehicles costing less than $500, would have marked its 20th anniversary this year.
The event was marred by disorder in 2006 and again last year.
Attempts to negotiate a revamped Undie 500 with authorities failed and traditional organiser Ensoc (University of Canterbury’s engineering society) cancelled the Undie 500 this year.
Legal advice also led to the cancellation of an alternative official event, Trek 08.
A rogue event has been talked about on social networking websites Facebook and Bebo since the official events were cancelled and an email was circulated among Canterbury University students this week saying an Undie 500-style rally was planned for this weekend.
It’s not just Dunedin that has problems. The manager of Oamaru’s KFC, Barry Baylis, told the Oamaru Mail that previous Undie 500 participants have created chaos and left revolting messes in their wake.
I must be getting old because I can remember a time when it was possible to have fun even if alcohol was involved without upsetting other people and with no need for police.
August 20, 2008 at 10:01 am
I was the secretary for ENSOC many moons ago and then had an annual trip by bus to Dunedin to socialise with the Medical students. It was all good fun stopping at pubs on the way although I do vaguely remember getting thrown out of Timaru by the cops for everyone peeing off the spiral road that takes you down to the harbour. Also remember writing a very aplogetic letter to a venue in Chch where we had held our annual dinner and some how a lot of vomit had got on the floor. It must have been food poisoning!!
August 20, 2008 at 10:16 am
Meant to mention that as I had been at school in Oamaru and Dad was the chairman of the Waitaki County Council, I never stopped the bus in Oamaru.
August 20, 2008 at 10:32 am
Ah ha Lou, now I know who you are. I was at WGHS a year ahead of your sister and we recognised each other when we met at a rugby do last year in spite of what time and gravity had done to us since we left school.
I remember your father as County chair and he featured in at least one paper last year protesting against the EFA.
August 20, 2008 at 4:27 pm
“I must be getting old because I can remember a time when it was possible to have fun even if alcohol was involved without upsetting other people and with no need for police.”
See and I think I am getting old because it is possible to have fun even if alcohol is involved without upsetting other people and with no need for the police.
August 29, 2008 at 6:26 am
Hi Lou Taylor,
Could you get in touch with me please: david dot brockett at gmail dot com. I have been working on putting together an ENSOC Honours Board for some time and your name might help fill one of the few remaining gaps. http://www.ensoc.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=29&Itemid=45
Regards,
David Brockett
August 29, 2008 at 7:10 am
David – you’re more likely to get a response at No Minister: http://nominister.blogspot.com/